The program was headlined by the top-tier leaders of QBO’s public
and private partners and attended by over 200 guests from the startup
ecosystem, including notable founders and entrepreneurs, mentors and investors,
and representatives from various Technology Business Incubators (TBIs), startup
enablers, incubators, and corporations.
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Before
the grand reveal at the QNNECT: The QBO App Launch, an unveiling of a virtual
hub meant to unite and empower the local startup ecosystem, Rene “Butch” Meily,
President of QBO Innovation Hub, the country’s first public-private initiative
for startups, asks everyone to say “yes” to the future of Philippine
startups.
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Secretary
Fortunato “Boy” de la Peña of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
delivering his welcoming remarks for the QBO App Launch, an initiative
spearheaded by QBO and DOST as a way to unite the startup ecosystem, last March
1 at the City Garden Grand Hotel.
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The
founding partners of QBO Innovation Hub, the country’s first public-private
initiative for startups, were all present for QBO QNNECT: The QBO App Launch,
the official unveiling of a virtual hub developed by QBO with the vision of
Filipino startups changing the world. (From L-R: Secretary Fortunato “Boy” de
la Peña, the Department of Science and Technology; Katrina Chan, Director, QBO;
Assistant Secretary Rafaelita “Fita” Aldaba, the Department of Trade and
Industry; Patricia Javier-Gutierrez, Executive Director and Head of
Communications, J.P. Morgan; Diane Eustaquio, Executive Director, IdeaSpace
Foundation Inc.; and Rene “Butch” Meily, President, QBO.)
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Some notable guests included local startups like Cropital,
Pushkart, and Tripkada. The event was also attended by top executives from
QBO’s public and private partners, including Ola Almgren, United Nations
Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP); Chaye Cabal Revilla, CFO of Smart Communications, Inc.; Gil Chua,
Chairman and CEO of DDB; and Monchito Ibrahim, Undersecretary of the Department
of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
The lineup of speakers at the launch included QBO’s founding
partners, such as Secretary Fortunato dela Peña of the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST); Assistant Secretary Rafaelita Aldaba of the Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI); and Roberto Panlilio, Senior Country Officer of
J.P. Morgan Philippines.
The QBO App is a virtual hub or a digital space where startups and
entrepreneurs can come together to connect and collaborate with other players
in the startup ecosystem and contribute their own knowledge and information
with the community. It is an extension of QBO’s on-ground efforts to unite and
empower the local startup ecosystem to work towards the same vision of Filipino
startups changing the world.
Startup enabler QBO launches QBO App…
(Part 2 of 3)
“QBO App’s prime purpose is to connect the dots in the local
startup ecosystem, not just for startups in Metro Manila, but for Philippine
startups, investors, and collaborators all over the world. It’s an avenue for
Filipino startups’ ideas to move forward,” said Katrina Chan, Director, QBO.
Rapid growth
“What makes our platform so strong is that there are so many
passionate and dedicated individuals in the startup ecosystem and this is the
platform they’ll be using to connect with each other,” added Chan.
“The app’s growth is a testament to the worthiness and
effectiveness of its mission. It’s a more convenient and accessible way to stay
on top of the startup ecosystem, whether you’re a founder, mentor, or investor.
It’s also very appealing to some of the younger Millennials who seek to
establish themselves in the startup industry, as it’s a user experience that
they’re more familiar with,” said Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, DOST
Undersecretary.
QNNECT, QLLABORTE, QNTRIBUTE
The QBO App is designed with the following functions in mind:
QNNECT, QLLABORATE, AND QNTRIBUTE.
The app’s QNNECT feature allows founders to get in touch with other
players in the industry and form partnerships. Through the app, mentors and
investors can also discover new businesses and other potentially disruptive
investments.
“One of the more important aspects of the QBO program as well as
this new app is that it provides members with easier access to world-class
mentors, business leaders, and other entrepreneurs who’ve thrived across
industries. This collaborative environment and sharing of best practices builds
and strengthens even further the local startup community,” said Patricia Anne
Javier-Gutierrez, Head of Communications at J.P. Morgan.
Startup enabler QBO launches QBO App…
(Part 3 of 3)
The QLLABORATE function allows members to see what startup events,
opportunities, and programs are happening when and where. Startups can also
better collaborate with each other and reach out to special guests or speakers
through the app’s ‘Groups’ feature. Members can also access relevant resources
through the app, such as startup reports, government forms, powerpoint
presentations from speakers, and other documents that are all downloadable
exclusively in the app through the ‘Content’ function.
Much like other social networking sites, the QBO app is also the
perfect avenue to QNTRIBUTE. Startups can share news or push their products and
services through the News function, where they can post videos, photos, links,
or other startup-related content in a social media-like timeline.
How to download the app
The app can be found on either Google Play Store or the App Store.
Search for “QBO Innovation Hub”. After downloading, register through e-mail,
cellphone, or Facebook. Users will have to wait for their membership approval
from the QBO team. Once approved, they can create their profiles and begin to
QNNECT.
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